Are You Ready for Licensing’s Biggest Week?

. As the new year rolls in, the global licensing community begins its countdown to Licensing Expo 2019.

Returning to the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, the annual trade show will take place June 4-6 and will boast a revamped programming slate, exciting educational opportunities and, of course, the opportunity to network with the best in the business!

The industry’s definitive event attracts an average of 16,000 attendees, licensees, retailers, manufacturers, distributors, brand owners, licensing agents and IP holders, who represent more than 65 countries and who will have a chance to interact with more than 5,000 brands.

New properties being showcased at Licensing Expo 2019 include Perfetti Van Melle, Kakao, The Coca-Cola Company, Summoners War, Sony Music Communications, Inc., and Stan Lee’s Pow! Entertainment.

Licensing Week will kick-off June 3 and run through June 6, offering a variety of educational and networking events in and around Licensing Expo.

The full schedule will be announced in early 2019. Licensing University, the wide-ranging collection of seminars, presentations and small-group roundtable discussions produced by LIMA, will move onto the show floor for the first time. Previously, sessions were held in the lower level ballrooms of the North Convention Center–quite a distance from the center of action in the main exhibit hall. The new format will save time and will allow attendees to transition in and out of sessions and listen in between meetings.

“No longer is Licensing University a 10-minute walk to the North Convention hall,” says Nick Pucci, marketing manager, Licensing Expo. “Attendees can finish a meeting and go straight to a Licensing University session. We’re excited about the convenience of the new location, which allows for more opportunity to experience Licensing University’s thought-provoking program and to network with industry leaders.”

Licensing Expo’s Matchmaking Service, the official one-to-one business networking tool for exhibitors and attendees at the show, will be available once again. This invaluable resource allows industry newbies and insiders alike to connect with potential business partners before Licensing Expo begins. In 2018, more than 4,600 meetings were secured before the start of the show. For more information about the Matchmaking Service, visit www.licensingexpo.com/matchmaking.

This year's event is expected to reflect the changes taking place within the industry. Last year's trade show saw significant growth in key areas among its attendee base, including a 10 percent increase in retailer attendance and a 16 percent increase in first-time attendees, including Japanese retailer UNIQLO. Attendees from key licensing markets in Brazil, China, Japan and the U.K. also increased.

Core exhibitor categories also experienced significant gains last year, including a 51 percent increase in associations and nonprofits, a 34 percent increase in music, a 20 percent increase in gaming and apps and a 17 percent increase in sports.

Licensing Expo’s continued success points to growth in the global licensing business, which rose 3.3 percent to $271.6 billion, according to a 2018 survey from the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA). To register for Licensing Expo 2019 for free, visit

www.licensingexpo.com/register

.